20 Glossary
Voter Registration
residency requirement the stipulation that citizen must live in a state for a determined period of time before a citizen can register to vote as a resident of that state
Voter Turnout
chronic minority voters who belong to political parties that tend not to be competitive in national elections because they are too small to become a majority or because of the Electoral College system distribution in their state
early voting an accommodation that allows voting up to two weeks before Election Day
voter fatigue the result when voters grow tired of voting and stay home from the polls
voting-age population the number of citizens over eighteen
voting-eligible population the number of citizens eligible to vote
Elections
caucus a form of candidate nomination that occurs in a town-hall style format rather than a day-long election; usually reserved for presidential elections
closed primary an election in which only voters registered with a party may vote for that party’s candidates
coattail effect the result when a popular presidential candidate helps candidates from his or her party win their own elections
delegates party members who are chosen to represent a particular candidate at the party’s state- or national-level nominating convention
district system the means by which electoral votes are divided between candidates based on who wins districts and/or the state
Electoral College the constitutionally created group of individuals, chosen by the states, with the responsibility of formally selecting the next U.S. president
incumbent the current holder of a political office
midterm elections the congressional elections that occur in the even-numbered years between presidential election years, in the middle of the president’s term
open primary an election in which any registered voter may vote in any party’s primary or caucus
platform the set of issues important to the political party and the party delegates
political action committees (PACs) organizations created to raise money for political campaigns and spend money to influence policy and politics
super PACs officially known as Independent Expenditure-Only Committees; organizations that can fundraise and spend as they please to support or attack a candidate but not contribute directly to a candidate or strategize with a candidate’s campaign
top-two primary a primary election in which the two candidates with the most votes, regardless of party, become the nominees for the general election
winner-take-all system all electoral votes for a state are given to the candidate who wins the most votes in that state
Campaigns and Voting
ballot fatigue the result when a voter stops voting for offices and initiatives at the bottom of a long ballot
incumbency advantage the advantage held by officeholders that allows them to often win reelection
shadow campaign a campaign run by political action committees and other organizations without the coordination of the candidate
straight-ticket voting the practice of voting only for candidates from the same party
Direct Democracy
initiative law or constitutional amendment proposed and passed by the voters and subject to review by the state courts; also called a proposition
recall the removal of a politician or government official by the voters
referendum a yes or no vote by citizens on a law or candidate proposed by the state government
